Anatomy of the coronary arteries in Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Coronary circulation determines the proper functioning of the heart muscle and blood circulation in the body. Cardiovascular diseases in humans are creating an ever-increasing demand for more research into their pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.

Animal models of organs are an indispensable part of research for the development of human medicine. Due to the high genetic similarity, the most commonly used donor is the domestic pig. The Eurasian wild boar is the ancestor of the domestic pig and an invasive species not covered by European protection programmes. Given its analogous structure and genotype to the pig, it could potentially also become an organ donor.

The aim of this study was to analyse the normal coronary anatomy of the Eurasian wild boar and compare it to humans, domestic pigs and other animal species.

The study was conducted on 60 wild boar hearts. Twenty-eight slides were prepared using acrylic, while liquid latex was injected into 32 hearts. The blood vessels were then manually prepared using surgical instruments for examination.

Both the right coronary artery and the left coronary artery of the boar diverge from the ascending aorta from opposite aortic sinuses. The left coronary artery begins its course in the left aortic sinus, starting between the left appendage and the pulmonary trunk. It then heads inferiorly. The right coronary artery supplies blood to the right atrium and right ventricle.

The study points to the wild boar coronary system’s individual morphological features and notes the common arterial patterns in mammals.